The Dreams Convention...

...is only two weeks away. I have two tickets available for the Arizona Dreamin' portion of the event. The last day to purchase tickets is May 25.

The biggest problem? Needing to choose between all the great authors and workshops.

http://thedreamsconvention.com/

Look at the packed schedule:

Friday, May 29, 2015

5:00pm-6:30pm   REGISTRATION

7:00pm-9:45pm  Hotel-Hosted Reception, 24-Author "Speed Meet", Live Entertainment, Photos with the "Men of Our Dreams" and our Featured Authors for charity ~ $10 donation per group/pose

Saturday, May 30, 2015

8:30am-9:00am    LATE REGISTRATION

9:00am-9:45am    Sign up for 7 AUTHOR BOOK CLUBS and 1 DINNER TABLE

10:00am    BOOKSTORE Opens

10:00am-10:30am - BOOK CLUB #1
10:45am-11:15am - BOOK CLUB #2
11:30am-12:00pm - BOOK CLUB #3
12:15pm-12:45pm - BOOK CLUB #4

1:00pm    LUNCH in Suites with Authors

2:30pm-3:00pm - BOOK CLUB #5
3:15pm-3:45pm - BOOK CLUB #6
4:00pm-4:30pm - BOOK CLUB #7

5:00pm    BOOK STORE Closes

6:00pm   DINNER with AUTHORS

“MAN OF OUR DREAMS” Contest
Live Auction with "Dreamin' Dollars"
Photos with the "Men of Our Dreams" and our Featured Authors for charity ~ $10 donation per group/pose

Sunday, June 1, 2014

10:00am-11:00am   "Realizing Your Dream" Interactive Session

If you only want to attend on Saturday, or it's the only day you have free, it's still worth the price. The authors and Men of Our Dreams go to great lengths to make this event as much fun as possible, speaking from having attended as a reader for three years in a row.

If you've ever thought about writing or want to know more about what writers do, there's also the Buildin' a Dream Event, right before the Arizona Dreamin' Event:

Schedule

Wednesday, May 27th, 2015
7:00-8:30pm The Dreams Convention Open Booksigning

Thursday, May 28th, 2015
5:00-6:00pm Buildin’ the Dream Registration
6:00-7:30pm Buildin’ the Dream Trade Show Dream Award Nominee Booksigning
7:30pm The 2015 Dream Awards Ceremony  

Friday, May 29th, 2015
8:30-8:50am Late Registration
8:50-8:55am Welcome in the MAIN BALLROOM
9:00-9:50am
CRAFT: Sprinting **2-hour workshop** taught by Virginia Nelson
PUBLISHING: Never Give Up! taught by Sharon Hamilton
BUSINESS: Optimizing Amazon taught by Aaron Michael Ritchey
AUTHOR EXTRAS: A Writer’s Environment by Laurel Hawkes

10:00-10:50am
CRAFT: Sprinting with Virginia Nelson - continued **must attend 1st hour of this workshop**
PUBLISHING: 4.5 Paths to Publishing taught by Kris Tualla
BUSINESS: Write with Your Heart, Sell with Your Brain Taught by Rose Gordon
AUTHOR EXTRAS: Finding Reliable Reviewers Taught by Rhonda Plumhoff

11:00-11:50am
CRAFT: Mistakes Authors Make: Military Taught by Ret. Staff Sgt. Nic Baker
PUBLISHING: What Publishers Want Taught by PJ Hulstrand, Az Publishing Services
BUSINESS: Getting Legal with Attorney-at-Law Megan Scott
AUTHOR EXTRAS: Co-Authoring Taught by Sahara Kelly & Scott Carpenter

11:55-12:30pm LUNCH in the Main Ballroom 
12:00-4:00pm Buildin’ the Dream Bookstore Craft Books ONLY

12:35-1:20pm
CRAFT: Mistakes Authors Make: Police Procedurals Taught by Ret. Detective Jerry McCown
PUBLISHING: Getting Your Book in Audio Panel with Sharon Hamilton, Kris Tualla, Deena Remiel, & Morgan Kearns
BUSINESS: Transmedia Marketing Taught by Angela K Roe
AUTHOR EXTRAS: Critique Partners Taught by Camelia Miron Skiba

1:30-2:20pm
CRAFT: Mistakes Authors Make: Writing the Male POV Taught by James Magnussen
PUBLISHING: Self-Editing Taught by Julie L York
BUSINESS: Creative Marketing: Role Players Taught by Stacie Stopen
AUTHOR EXTRAS: Benefits of Flash Fiction Taught by Siobhan Muir

2:30-3:20pm
CRAFT: Ready. Set. Write! Taught by Deena Remiel
PUBLISHING: Cover Art Taught by Scott Carpenter
BUSINESS: Creative Marketing: Release Parties Taught by Rhonda Plumhoff
AUTHOR EXTRAS: The Power of Essential Oils Taught by doTERRA Consultant Dawn Despain

3:30-4:15pm
CRAFT:  Plotting a Successful Series Taught by AmyLynn Bright
PUBLISHING:  New York or Indie: Pros & Cons Taught by Susan Squires
BUSINESS: Creative Marketing: Boxed Sets & Bundles Taught by Sharon Hamilton
AUTHOR EXTRAS: Relaxation for Authors Taught by Amber Polo

4:20-4:30pm CLOSING CEREMONY in Main Ballroom (Trade Show Raffle Drawing)

3:45-5:30pm Author Headshots ~ Professional Photographer Herb Stokes from Southwest Portraits will take headshots to be used ROYALTY FREE in all promotions. Additional Fee required.

3:45-5:30pm Az Publishing Services will take pitches ~ PJ Hulstrand (Publisher, CEO of Az Publishing Services) will schedule time to take pitches.
                                              
**Because life happens, the schedule is subject to change.
***Tickets for Buildin’ the Dream 2015 are non-refundable, but are transferrable.

Writing Sprint...

Writers In The Storm hosted a word sprint day on FB, last Monday, from 4 a.m. to midnight DST.

I've been invited to join other groups but, frankly, I was intimidated. I didn't think I could do it. This time, I figured, "Why not?" What was the worst that could happen? I'd add 20 or 30 new words. That's 20 or 30 more than I had before. Win-Win, no matter what.

I added 13,524 words, finishing Faith's Labor. It was mostly a re-write, moving the story from one document to the other by re-typing. Even so, I added several thousand new words as I edited along the way. Wow!

At the Buildin' the Dream conference, I'll be sharing some of what I learned.

http://www.buildinthedream.com/

I'm endeavoring to learn to not reward myself with food. I chose this instead:

I've mentioned before I love place settings. These were on sale, averaging less than $2 a piece.

A Special Offer from Arizona Dreamin'!

Good news! In honor of the enormous Tucson Festival of Books (March 14-15), Kris Tualla, co-founder of The Dreams Convention is offering a "special event pricing" of only $59 for readers in honor of the event.

A special "Buy Now" button is already on the website:

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

Tickets must be purchased BY MARCH 22nd - one week after the Festival - to get this price. Be sure to tell them that Laurel Hawkes sent you in order to be eligible for 1 of 4 special gift baskets I'm preparing for those who purchase my tickets.

ALSO - Buildin' the Dream is $10 off during the same time period.

http://www.buildinthedream.com/

This event is author focused, with a variety of helpful workshops. I'll be teaching one on "A Writer's Environment." 

The link below will take you to both events. Tickets are purchased separately.

http://thedreamsconvention.com/

Arizona Dreamin' Event 2015

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

The end of May will be here before you know it.

Do you have your ticket, yet?
Only $89! Be sure to let them know I sent you.

* Authors of Various Genres of romance
* Speed-meet every participating author
* Choose 8 you find the most interesting for "Book Clubs" - 10 readers with 1 author in 30-minute sessions to ask them questions and talk about their books
* Have Lunch with Individual Authors of your choice in the Book Club suites.
* Have Dinner with an Author at our Saturday evening "Dress Like Your Favorite Character" costume dinner
* Friday Night Dreamin' Dollars auction and Live Entertainment
* Event Bookstore with Discounted Book Pricing
* "Man of Our Dreams" cover model competition during dinner
* Huge Raffle Baskets with 100% of the proceeds going to our charity
* Free Goody Bags and Arizona Dreamin' T-Shirst for everyone
* Meet new people and make new friends and laugh and laugh and laugh some more...

For those who buy one of my limited tickets, I'm including a signed copy of Holiday, USA Anthology 2014, which will not be available at the conference. I also found beautiful little pewter bookmarks. A small jar of my reduced-sugar blackberry jam will be included. Until the end of May, I'll periodically add another gift to the Laurel Hawkes ticket-holder baskets.

I'm looking forward to the event and spending time with wonderful people.

Holiday, USA Anthology 2014

Discover Holiday, where love is in the air and God is in the mix, in the 2014 collection of the Holiday, USA ebooks, for the romantic heart.

Happy New Year?

Officer Tim Black moved to Holiday for a change of scene. Sandy Foster moved to escape her dysfunctional family. The willingness to set pride aside makes the difference between spending the New Year alone and Happily Ever After...

Chocolate Cake for Two

Henry Weaver needs a fresh start. Holiday Sweets, a specialty cupcake shop, is Annie Sweet's heritage. Choosing God is rarely the easy way, and sometimes the way to Happily Ever After appears impossible...

Valentine Delivery

Lance Nelson delivers flowers every Valentine's Day. Sharon Kelly stops waiting for someone to send her what she wants. God works in mysterious ways to provide the way to Happily Ever After, even when His children stand in their own way...

Tough Luck

Holiday's playboy, Brent Kelly, returns home a changed man. The last thing Cindy Garvey needs is one more surprise in her life. God provides the way to Happily Ever After, no matter how far astray His children wander...

Enjoy four complete novellas all in one book.

http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-USA-Anthology-2014-1/dp/150773459X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1424137760&sr=1-1

For those who purchase one of my tickets to Arizona Dreamin' Conference (simply let them know I sent you), this book will be included as a gift, autographed of course. It won't be available for sale at the conference.

Wonderful cover artist Carol Fiorillo created the paperback book cover. You should see it in real life.

The Dreams Convention update...

If you want to participate, this is the year and here's why, straight from the Coordinators:

Our idea is to skip 2016, and return with guns blazing for The Dreams Convention in 2017.

What does that mean to you?

First of all, if you or any of your ​friends were thinking about waiting until 2016 to attend, now is the time to rethink that! (On my calendar, for the fourth time. Is it on yours?)

Secondly, every attendee at Buildin' theDream or Arizona Dreamin' is invited to join the Multi-AuthorBooksigning on Wednesday, May 27th! ​Please email Kris@KrisTualla.com ​if you would like to participate.

And third:

Buildin' the Dream ($79) still includes:
·         27 Author-Focused Workshops ~ Choose 8 from Craft, Publishing, or Business Tracks. (I'm presenting a workshop on the writer's environment.)
·        Your LUNCH
·         Author Resource Trade Show
·         Author Resource Directory
·         FREE Vendor Raffle Prizes
·         1st Annual Dream Awards
·         Event Bookstore (On the Craft of Writing)
·         Publishers Accepting Pitches
·         Bestselling Authors Critiquing Your Work
·         FREE Goody Bag

Arizona Dreamin' ($89) still includes:
* Friday night All-Author SPEED-MEET
* Professional Comedian Brian Kohatsu
* ​8 "BOOK CLUBS" per reader - 10 readers with 1 author
* LUNCH with individual authors
* DINNER with the author of your choice
* FREE "Dreamin' Dollars" auction
* "MAN OF OUR DREAMS" cover model competition
* RAFFLE BASKETS (100% of the proceeds go to charity)
* Discounted Bookstore Pricing
* Free GOODY BAGS
* PLUS: Hotel conference rates are just $99 for a SUITE, and include a cooked-to-order breakfast for everyone. Overall, The Dreams Convention is clearly the best deal around.

We hope you are as excited as we are about the possibilities, and we look forward to seeing you in May!

The Dreams Convention Coordinators:
Buildin the Dream ~ Morgan Kearns & Rhonda Plumhoff
Arizona Dreamin' ~ Kris Tualla & Deena Remiel

http://thedreamsconvention.com/

But wait, there's more! (I've always wanted to say that.) Those lucky few who purchase my tickets will receive an additional gift from me to you. Simply let them know you're signing up with me when you purchase your ticket.

Featured author at Arizona Dreamin'

Yes, me!

It's the 5th annual Arizona Dreamin' on May 29-31, 2015!

I've been a reader at the event the last 3 years and had a lovely time. I'm looking forward to being a featured author this year. My first time! I've been planning for months. I want to make this event as wonderful for my readers as the other authors have made it for me.

This reader-focused weekend is always a blast -and it's CHEAP! Look what you get for ONLY $89:

*SPEED-MEET ​​27 authors of VARIOUS GENRES of romance​!
​*Attend 8 "BOOK CLUBS" - 10 readers with 1 author in 30-minute sessions​!​
*LUNCH ​with individual authors​!​
*DINNER ​with the author​ of your choice!​
*FREE ​"​​Dreamin' Dollars" auction​!
*Professional Comedian Brian Kohatsu!
*Discounted Bookstore Pricing!
*"MAN OF OUR DREAMS" cover model competition​!
*RAFFLE BASKETS ​- 100% of the proceeds go to charity​!​
*FREE GOODY BAGS​!​
*More FUN than can be described. True story​​.​

Hotel rates are just $95 for a SUITE, and include a ​FULL breakfast​ for everyone!​ Hands down, the best deal around.

​Go here to buy your Arizona Dreamin' ticket before this fantastic event sells out​. Space is limited. It's part of the reason I like this event. I've met amazing people and been blessed to widen my circle of friends. Be sure to tell them I sent you! http://thedreamsconvention.com/

Tickets to Arizona Dreamin' are available...

The total cost for the event itself is $89. This doesn't include the hotel, should you decide to stay there, though the hotel does offer a discount. Yes, you may attend the event without staying at the hotel. I like to stay at the hotel so I'm not driving back and forth. I also use the conference as a mini type of stay-cation. I always come away feeling refreshed and energized.

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

This will be my first time as a presenting author. The previous conferences, I've attended as a reader. It's also one of the smaller conferences, something my introvert self likes. Stepping up as an author is no small feat. I'm planning my book clubs and table. I want the event to be fun for readers like the wonderful authors I attended in order to meet made it fun for me.

Suggestions are welcome. :-)

May you be blessed.

Hallee Bridgeman...

At the AZ Dreamin' Reader's Conference, readers are given the opportunity to meet authors. There is "speed dating," during which the available authors visit each table of readers and talk about their books for two minutes. Readers are then given the opportunity meet up to 7 authors by signing up for 6 Book Clubs, no more than 10 people in each group, and Dinner, 8 at the table.

Before attending the conference, I visited the AZDRC website and checked out all the authors. I investigated the types of books they wrote, including reading samples, and made a list of the authors I wanted to meet, some I knew already and some new.

Book Clubs last 30 minutes. Some authors read portions of their book. Some play games, have quizzes, share audio portions of their books. They all share goodies with their fans. It's also an opportunity to have books signed.

I read "Greater Than Rubies" by Hallee Bridgeman (it ties book 1 and 2 together) and knew I wanted to meet her. She writes the Christian Romance novels I want to read! Yes, writers are fans, too.

http://www.amazon.com/Greater-Rubies-Christian-Romance-Jewel-ebook/dp/B00AV59ANM/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1401902554&sr=1-6&keywords=hallee+bridgeman+jewel+series

I chose Hallee as one of my Book Clubs as well as dinner. What a delightful experience!

For the book club, she and her husband provided a healthy bowl of fruit, coffee, and donut holes. Yummy! We talked as friends do, sharing experiences in writing and our journey to become better Christians. In attending her Book Club and dinner, I also met some wonderful people. It's a joy to walk into a room and know you already have something in common with everyone present, a love for some of the same books.

I bought the Jewel anthology and look forward to reading it, soon. I need more time.

Dinner offered the opportunity to become better acquainted. We shared a prayer before eating, something I usually do alone. We Readers asked questions and the Bridgemans answered and gave more. I was fed not only with delicious food but with fellowship.

What the Bridgemans didn't know: My family was going through a make it or break it time. Because of their faith and example, I was encouraged and strengthened to meet the tribulation waiting for me.

I enjoyed the entire weekend, but my time with the Bridgemans alone made it all worth it. I hope to see them again, next year. I will never look at Monopoly the same way. Read "Greater Than Rubies" and maybe you won't either.

http://www.halleethehomemaker.com/

Reveiw of AZ Dreamin Readers' Conference...

Loved it!

First, I presented a workshop, A Writer's Environment, at the amazing Buildin' the Dream conference, run in connection with AZ Dreamin'. The first is for writers of any kind, and the second is for romance readers. What an amazing opportunity and experience. I learned from every class. Of course, the problem was wanting to be in two classes at the same time.

At the readers' conference, the following day, I attended book clubs ~ 30 minute blocks ~ with some of my favorite authors. Fan girl moment: I met Hallee Bridgeman. I discovered her books because of the conference. She writes the kind of Christian Romance novels I love to read. I'll write a complete blog on her, including a link to her blog, on Thursday.

I renewed friendships, seeing some wonderful people I haven't seen since last year's conference, and made some new friends I look forward to seeing next year.

The hotel was lovely, located on a golf course, and the area was beautiful. I enjoyed gazing at the north side of Camelback Mountain from my balcony. I spent time every morning breathing in the view and the cool air. Yes, it was still cool in the morning.

Fun side notes:

At breakfast, in the dining room, I sat by the window or outside, and saw the little cottontail who lived in the area. Cute!

On Sunday morning, I sat outside on the balcony while I read my Bible. At 8:05, a line of golf carts trundled along the path between the hotel and the golf course. The first thing to pop into my head was: A ride in Disneyland!

Desert Dreams Writers' Conference 2012... Finale...

The ladies behind the conference:

http://www.desertroserwa.org/

Committee:
Coordinators:  Susan Lanier-Graham and Tina LeVon McCright
Book Sales:  Tina LeVon McCright and Barnes & Noble
Editor/Agent Appointments:  Erin Quinn
Goody Bags:  Susan Lanier-Graham and Shirley Lanier
Hospitality:  Heather Palmer and Lynne Marino
Logo Design:  Ruth Perkins
Moderators:  Terri (Molina) Dunham
On-Site Registration:  Shelley Coriell
Pre-Registration:  Susan Lanier-Graham
Programs:  Susan Lanier-Graham
Publicity:  Kris Tualla
Raffles:  Stacey Goitia
Realizing the Dream Contest:  Linda Style
Treasurer:  Sonya Parsons
Website Updates:  Shelley Coriell

Awesome job! Thank you!!

This conference is scheduled for every two years. I plan to attend the next one. At our next Desert Rose meeting, plans will begin to be put in motion for the conference. Yes, one is finished and planning for the next begins.

May the 4th be with you. :-)

Desert Dreams Writers Conference 2012...3

Last day, I helped out in the hospitality suite again, then had pancakes and bacon for breakfast, again. Yes, I love pancakes and bacon. The scale wasn't near the disaster I feared it would be, but then I've been learning to exercise and eat better. I'm proud of myself for sometimes managing to not clean my plate. Tough lesson to unlearn.

Our last speaker was Martha Alderson's Plot and the Transformational Power of the Universal Story. In one of the exercises, I learned a bit more about several of my characters. It was quite powerful to have Martha state that a character needs to be able to burn the old self in order to bring forth the new self.

A Phoenix rising from the Ashes. Isn't that what most of us would like to be? We read self-help books, attend lectures and workshops on self-improvement, seek out blogs on self-improvement because we want to become our best selves. The only way to do it is to let go of the old self, the things holding us back, and allow them to be burned or they come creeping back.

Another oddball thing I learned about myself: I brought my colored pens and used a different color every day, blue, green, purple, black, and red in doing follow up thoughts today. I do well with green. My practical heart will use up all the pens I own, but when I buy new ones, I'm buying green.

Desert Dreams Writers' Conference 2012...2

Day 2 started early. I was very good and brought my weights so I could work out. Considering how much I was eating (I eat to stuff emotions I don't want or don't know how to handle). I helped in the hospitality suite, which gave me an opportunity to meet new people on a much smaller scale. I'm much more comfortable one on one or two or even three or four, but a crowd scares me silly.

That's a lie.

Crowds don't scare me. They overwhelm me. I'm hypersensitive so pick up on all the tension going on around me. I don' t know how to turn it off, or even if I want to, because being aware is also a blessing.

Breakfast was pancakes and bacon. Yummy. It comes with the room. Nice. By the way, the Chaparral Suites, in Scottsdale, are lovely. I felt pampered simply being there.

Workshops started early, 8:30 am. I took a little time to rest and regroup, then dove in at 9:45 am with Linda Styles' Make 'Em Laugh, Make 'Em Cry -- No Don't. As she discussed the importance of not being cliche in your word choices, I immediately thought of Kris Tualla. She uses some amazing descriptions. I'd reread sentences so I could enjoy her unique choice of words all over again.

Maggie Shayne's Sanity 101 offered different ideas for enjoying life more. We supposedly start writing because we love it. It's a pity to lose that joy in the grind to complete the task.

Jennifer Schober's Staying Sane and Optimizing Creativity in the Digital Age of Publishing could have been paired with Maggie Shayne's workshop, not that it needed to be paired. It followed a similar theme of staying in the present.

I had the privilege of moderating for Laurie Schnebly-Campbell's class Double Ds: Description and Dialogue. She likes to be interactive, giving short writing assignments and then having a few of the participants share their work. Wow. I was impressed. She also suggested using different colors for each character's dialogue so you could compare and see if it all sounds the same or different. I've taken a class from Laurie and enjoyed her presentations in our Desert Rose meetings. She was both helpful and encouraging when I was preparing my manuscript for submission. I don't think I could have done it without her.

My last workshop on Saturday was Unlock, Unblock! with Jess Macallan and Amber Scott. It was the most revealing workshop for me. I've been discovering I'm more plotter than pantster (writing by the seat of your pants), but I now understand why. More importantly, they had a little demonstration, and I discovered how tactile/kinesthetic I am. When I'm feeling like the writing simply won't come I make bread or cookies. I love the doing. I love the feel of bread when I knead it, and it ripens from sticky to smooth. It feels different from when it isn't ready to when it is. I also enjoy the pop and snap of the dough as I work it. Again, making cookies is a consistent process. Both are orderly, and at the same time sort of brainless, only enough brain power to know what comes next when. I'd definitely attend this workshop again.

I bailed on the evening activity when my back spasmed. Fortunately, it didn't turn into anything serious.

Desert Dreans Writers' Conference 2012...

What an amazing event. This was my first writers' conference. My goal: Survive. Really. I knew what I was up against: My own fears of rejection, not fitting in, making a mistake, saying something stupid, saying too much, not holding to the boundaries I've worked hard to establish, feeling out of place.

Why would I feel out of place? In a place saturated with other writers? I feel a bit like I'm in limbo. I'm not looking for an agent or editor. I've sold, but the first book won't be published until August, so I'm not quite published either.

I've decided to tackle this one day for each post. There's a lot of material, and this is me processing. 

Friday, we had a three-hour presentation by Bob Mayer, Write It Forward. It was cram-packed with information. The vast majority of it I either did already or it didn't fit me. Stepping over the threshold puts me in a position of transition. It's awkward, no matter how you go about it. However, I'm so grateful I attended. If I have the opportunity to attend another of his workshops, I'll take it.

Perhaps, oddly enough, the most important thing I learned was if the bomb blast is enough to move you, it's enough to kill you. I corrected my manuscript to reflect what I'd learned. Whew.

I didn't attend any other workshops on Friday as I was helping at the Registration desk. I like being helpful. It allowed me to meet some new people, and chat a bit.

Dinner and the guest speaker, Tom Leveen, were good.

I was determined to take a break from everything. Alone in my room, I forced myself to settle in the silence. It took a bit of work, but it came. Then I asked myself: Why am I here? A soft answer filled my soul: To help others feel comfortable. Something I could do, though I've been known to make people feel uncomfortable as well. :-)

Have you registered, yet?

Registration for the Desert Dreams Writers' Conference continues...

http://www.desertroserwa.org

Luck In Love is edited. Time to put away, and working on something else for a few days. Then I'll start all over again. It's so much better.

Did you know April is Child Abuse Awareness month? Neither did I. Jude Urbanski has children's book author Julie K. Federico. http://judeurbanski.blogspot.com/

If you want to know more about Patty Froese, the author of Perfect on Paper, she was interviewed over at the Cuffe Sisters. http://cuffesisters.com/2012/complimentary-cuffes/welcome-patty-froese/

What's fun? Patty interviewed the Cuffe Sisters. http://pattyfroese.com/?p=1788

Lynette Endicott has also interviewed the Cuffe Sisters. http://www.lynetteendicott.blogspot.ca/

Vijaya Schartz wrote a post on writing book blurbs, not one of my favorite activities. http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/content.php?1993-Writing-the-Blurb-by-Vijaya-Schartz

Desert Dreams Writers' Conference 2012... reason #24

Have I mentioned you'll have the opportunity to meet editors and agents and authors? Yes, I have. So, why haven't you registered yet? An extra incentive: Kathryne Kennedy will critique one winner's query letter on April 1st. Of course, you have to be registered for the conference to be eligible. :-) http://www.desertroserwa.org Enjoyable interview with Lynette Endicott at Maria Hammarblad's site: http://www.scifiromance.info/2012/03/interview-with-lynette-endicott.html Whoohoo!! The first spam made it through the Blogger filter. Congratulations Blogger! With Google changing everything, they didn't make it better! I find the best way to handle this nonsense is to laugh at those trying to muck up my day. I was so confused. The commenter told me I could do better. Wait... What? I looked at the post they were commenting on, and it was yesterday's. Ummm... it was pitching the conference, like I have all month, so that wasn't new. I shared a blog I liked, which I do on a regular basis, so that wasn't new either. Then I shared a book I really enjoyed, and since it's my opinion, they don't have the right to discount it. I've also shared other books before, so it wasn't new either. Then I looked at the name. Oh. Should have looked there first. An ad. What do you know! They were right! I could have done better! Next time, I look at the name first, and then the spam goes *poof*

Desert Dreams Writers' Conference 2012... reason #23

You'll have the opportunity to mingles with authors, lots of authors. You don't have to be an author to attend. If you're interested in pursuing writing, here's your opportunity to dive into the community for a weekend. If you enjoy writing, you'll have the opportunity to be bathed in the community for a weekend. Did I mention it's only one weekend?

Friday through Sunday, April 27-29, but registration closes after Saturday March 31, so there isn't much time left. There's also the option of attending only one day, if the whole weekend is too much.

http://www.desertroserwa.org

Advice to aspiring writers: This is a timely post for the conference, by Stephania McGee: http://desertbreezepublishing.blogspot.com/2012/03/author-spotlight-stephenia-mcgee-has.html If you back track a day, you'll find her post on natural horsemanship. I've added her book Legacy of Lies to my wish list.

I finished Second Chance Match by Arlene James, a Chatam House series book, and loved it! I love the whole series. Arlene James is on my must read list.